Fire down Real España 3-1

CHICAGO, IL (Feb. 4, 2012) – Two first-half goals from Dominic Oduro and a third from Orr Barouch propelled the Chicago Fire over Real C.D. España 3-1 in a preseason international friendly at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans, La. Saturday evening. In the first three preseason matches, Oduro has recorded three goals in 105 minutes of play.

The Fire tallied first in the 26th minute when Sebastian Grazzini broke up a pass inside the attacking third. The Argentine playmaker laced a pin-point pass to Oduro inside the penalty area where he took a touch, turned and fired past Real España goalkeeper Kevin Hernandez.

España leveled the match with a set piece goal twelve minutes later. Jairo Puerto’s driven free kick found Edder Gonzalez open at the back post where he headed the ball over Fire goalkeeper Jay Nolly and into the back of the net to even things at 1-1 after 38 minutes of play.

Oduro would tally the first half brace in the 44th minute. Former Fire player, and current trialist, Ivan Guerrero started the build-up from the back sending a lofted ball to Patrick Nyarko on the left flank. Nyarko slotted Oduro in behind the España defense where the fleet Ghanaian danced around Hernandez to give the Fire the 2-1 advantage.

The Fire nearly added to their lead when Oduro was hauled down in the penalty box in the waning moments of the first half. His strike partner Federico Puppo stepped to the spot, however, his chipped effort eluded the frame and the Fire closed the half with the one goal lead.

Fire head coach Frank Klopas made wholesale changes at the half, before the side added to their lead in the 88th minute when midfielder Michael Videira slotted Victor Pineda into the box on the right. In behind the defense, the Fire Homegrown player unselfishly pushed the ball across the box to Orr Barouch who finished past España ‘keeper Marcelo Macias to ice the match.

The Fire return to Chicago on Sunday and resume preseason camp when the team travels to Ventura, Calif. on Wednesday, Feb. 8. While in California, the Men in Red continue preparations for the 2012 season with preseason games against Chivas USA (Feb. 11), Portland Timbers (Feb. 15) and the San Jose Earthquakes (Feb. 18). Follow all three preseason matches live atwww.twitter.com/ChiFireMatch.

The Fire host Opening Day at Toyota Park against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, March 24 at 7:30 PM CT. Chicago Fire Season Tickets are available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473), viaTicketmaster or by heading to the club’s official website at Chicago-Fire.com.

Notes:

Fire goalkeeper Jay Nolly played the full 90 minutes and allowed one goal in his preseason Fire debut.

- Defenders Cory Gibbs and Gonzalo Segares sat out the match after taking knocks in the Fire’s 3-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast University Wednesday night in Ave Maria, Fla.

Signed players unavailable for selection Saturday evening were Logan Pause, who has stayed in Chicago with his wife following the couple’s first child, Sean Johnson, who’s resting after a long offseason of national team camps and training at Everton and Rafael Robayo, who continues to await his visa.

Pause and Johnson will rejoin the team on February 8 in Ventura, Calif., while Robayo is expected to meet his teammates for the first time at some point during the stay out west.